Gay Rights?

Michael Sam, former University of Missouri Defensive End and this season's SEC Defensive Player of the Year, was drafted in the final round by the St. Louis Rams in last weeks NFL draft. However, in the state of Missouri, as well as in the majority of the states in America, a prospective employer has the right to not hire a gay or lesbian prospective employee because of their sexual orientation.

Eighteen states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, have laws protecting against gender identity employment discrimination. New York law only protects against employment discrimination of gays in public employment.

The Rams clearly know that Sam is gay and he won't have to deal with this potential employer bias.

A prospective employer in Missouri has the legal right to ask a prospecitve employee if they are gay. And the prospective employer has the right to say that they do not hire gays. The current Missouri Human Rights Statute offers no protection for homosexuals.

Michael Sam, as the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL, may have an impact on the laws of Missouri. House Bill 1930, introduced on March 13, 2014 would give gays and lesbians equal protection in employer hiring practices. Let's hope so.